Hope Gangloff at Susan Inglett Gallery

Hope Gangloff’s pasty-skinned subjects are likened to hip updates on Egon Schiele’s or Gustave Klimt’s characters but the men and women in her latest solo show at Chelsea’s Susan Inglett Gallery – like this picture of ‘Lydia (The Tattooed Lady)’ – seem to be having a lot more fun.  (Thanks to Nancy on last Saturday’s tour for a link to Groucho Marx’s ode to Lydia!) (Through March 23rd).

Hope Gangloff, Lydia (The Tattooed Lady), acrylic/canvas, 2013.

Barkley L. Hendricks at Jack Shainman Gallery

In his show at Chelsea’s Jack Shainman Gallery, Barkley L. Hendricks updates his reserved 1969 ‘Lawdy Mama’ beauty with a decidedly more confident woman in the 2011 ‘Triple Portrait:  World Conqueror.’ (Through April 6th).  

Triple Portrait:  World Conqueror, oil, aluminum leaf, variegation leaf and combination gold leaf on linen canvas, 2011.

Suzan Frecon at David Zwirner Gallery

What does it take for a minimal painting to stand on its own strengths, with no explanation or apparent associations to build a context for understanding?  New York-based Suzan Frecon’s abstractions ask this question, offering pure color, shape and surface to absorbing effect.   (At David Zwirner’s 525 West 19th St location through March 23rd).

Suzan Frecon, composition in four colors, trial 3, oil on panel, 2009.

Thomas Nozkowski at Pace Gallery

“With Nozkowski, a good, slow look-’n’-solve is part of the fun,” Tyler Green of Modern Art Notes has observed in response to Nozkowski’s puzzle-like paintings.  Packed with familiar yet alien forms, they translate the everyday world into abstraction. (At Pace Gallery’s 508 West 25th Street location through March 23rd).  

Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (9-22), oil on linen on panel, 2012.

Giorgio Griffa at Casey Kaplan Gallery

Giorgio Griffa, Festone, acrylic on canvas, 1984.
Giorgio Griffa, Festone, acrylic on canvas, 1984.

‘Festone’ (festoon) feels like the perfect title for this festive, beautifully colored acrylic painting by Turin-based painter Giorgio Griffa.  Hurricane Sandy damaged  the delicate-appearing work in his first New York solo show since 1970 in October; now the prolific Griffa, who folds and shelves his paintings upon completion, is back with a new selection of pleasingly minimal abstractions worth celebrating.  (At Chelsea’s Casey Kaplan Gallery through March 2nd).